Farmers Block Madrid Roads With Tractors In Protest Against Stringent Laws & Low State Aid

Farmers across Europe protest to demand action from policymakers. They gather in cities like Madrid and Brussels, driving their tractors to government offices and EU institutions. Their demands are clear: they want an end to cheap supermarket prices, low-cost imports that hurt local producers, and stringent EU environmental rules. They’re also calling for the termination of free trade agreements that bring in cheaper goods from countries with lower environmental standards. In Brussels, around 100 tractors encircle the EU headquarters, disrupting traffic and drawing attention to their cause. Police respond with a water cannon to douse burning tyres, while farmers express their frustration by throwing bottles at law enforcement. These demonstrations have been ongoing for weeks across Europe, from Spain to Poland, as farmers seek better income and less bureaucracy. They argue against unfair competition from cheap Ukrainian goods, which flooded the market after the EU waived duties in 2022 to su